Jesus
Warned Us About Persecution
Book
of John 15:18-27
We
should understand that in all the ages since the Lord Jesus Christ
went back home to Heaven to prepare us a place to live, Christians
have been persecuted in one form or another. We talk about
persecution here in America but in reality, we have never seen
persecution like those who live in many other parts of our world.
As
Christians we are never to seek the propagation of the Gospel by
force. We are to understand that all those in Heaven will be there
because they chose to love the Lord with all their heart. Not one
hypocrite will be in Heaven.
Not
one persecutor of the true Church will be in Heaven unless they
repent of their evil ways as did the Apostle Paul.
Paul
never forgave himself for persecuting the church even though he had
been forgiven of all his sin by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Psa
7:10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
Psa
7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked
every day.
Psa
7:12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow,
and made it ready.
Psa
7:13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he
ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
Psa
7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived
mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
All
unbelievers will see the wrath of God, we can be sure, but those who
persecute the Church that the Lord has built cannot escape the
judgments of the Lord.
The
Lord has prepared for them special instruments of death. To me this
is very frightening!
What
did Jesus say to us?
*****Joh
15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it
hated you.
If
this world hated all those who are mean, or who are selfish, or who
profit from lies, or who are dishonest and who live by immoral
standards then the world may be right, but the truth is, evil is not
the object of hatred in this world we live in!
This
world we live in hates goodness. Too much profit is made in the
things of evil for the world to give up on evil and turn to goodness!
Jesus
said that all Christians would be hated because we no longer belong
in this world, our home is in Heaven. We are the aliens that this
world spends so much money looking for!
Heaven
is that world that cannot be seen by the greatest telescopes.
Heaven
is that world that cannot be reached by the greatest of all
spaceships.
Heaven
is the world that can only be reached by and through the Lord Jesus
Christ!
The
Bible remains the bestselling, book in all the world and the Lord
Jesus Christ the most hated of all persons in the world.
Today
in America, we have a president who claims to be Christian. He is not
hated because of what he has done. He is hated because he claims to
be Christian along with his wife who also claims to be Christian.
This
is what America has become. Our nation which was established upon
Christian principles is being attacked by those who want an evil
nation and want to be supplied with every evil thing to keep it that
way.
This
is why the Bible says these things would only get worse.
2Ti_3:13
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and
being deceived.
Notice
it is not because people are being told the truth, it is only because
people are being deceived that all these things are happening!
This
does not allow for change in the way of the Christian!
1Th_5:15
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow
that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
The
Lord also did not never say that to be a Christian would be easy.
*****Joh
15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but
because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the
world, therefore the world hateth you.
All
those of the world are the same as those who reject the Lord Jesus
Christ. Why? Because it was our Lord Jesus Christ who taught the real
meaning of sin!
Jesus
makes it really simple, this world loves its sin to much to give it
up!
This
world refuses to accept that there is a God and His name is Jehovah!
Those
that reject that there is a God, named Jehovah, are all those who are
of the world! They are those who are lost, and they are those who
reject the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Jn
2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn
2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is
of the world.
Even
a blind man can see that this is true!
As
Christians these must not be see as strange things that just happen,
the Lord tells us all that these things will happen!
The
Muslim hate the Christian because they are being deceived.
The
Hindu hate the Christian because they are being deceived.
It
is the same for all false religions and all those who twist the Word
of God into a lie.
Once
our Creator is understood then many more will come to Christ to be
saved.
This
is why it is so important that we not give in to any thing that
challenges the Word of God in the Book of Genesis nor any other book
of the Bible.
We
have the truth, it is not up for discussion with those who reject the
truth!
God
is not some supreme grandfather, He is God even though He is a Loving
God and a Just God!
We
must understand that only by the "Grace" of God are we any
better than those of this world.
We
must also understand, that though we will one day meet the Lord "face
to face" we will never be equal to our God.
*****Joh
15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not
greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also
persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours
also.
We
may never understand Christian persecution, but we should see that it
is a test of our character and an evidence of living as a Christian.
We
have seen all over the world how Christians have gone to prison
before they would deny the Lord.
We
have seen all over the world of Christians who have been beheaded
before they would deny the Lord.
What
will we do when persecution comes our way? We need to ask ourselves
this question because persecution could come our way at any time!
We
must also understand that persecution is not some test that comes
from God.
The
world hates believers because they are convicted of their sin.
It
is the "Gospel Message" that convicts this world of sin
because sin cannot hide from righteousness.
Righteousness
is doing things right according to the Word of God.
Joh
8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye
are of this world; I am not of this world.
Joh
8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for
if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
The
world does all these things because the world rejects the true God!
*****Joh
15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake,
because they know not him that sent me.
Joh
15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin:
but now they have no cloke for their sin.
Joh
15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
This
world hates goodness and it shows more each day!
If
the Lord had never come to this earth the world would have been happy
to continue on until death and Hell just as it was in the days of
Noah.
Gen
6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,
and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually.
Gen
6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and
it grieved him at his heart.
We
are fools if we cannot see that the wickedness of man is growing
again at a rapid pace.
The
children of God again are turning toward the world!
Gen
6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of
the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
Gen
6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were
fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Gen
6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man,
for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and
twenty years.
God
had promised that He would not send a flood to cover this entire
world again and He gave us the "Rainbow" to remember this
promise.
When
God came to this world in the flesh of Jesus Christ with the message
of salvation, He pointed out the sin of this world which would again
lead to destruction this time by fire.
As
the world hides behind race and poverty, the Lord says there are only
two groups of people, the Church and the World.
We
see so many of the Church are not as hated because they have become
part of the world. The Church is sinking in the sea of the world and
may not ever rise again!
We
all have to work in the same places, enjoy the same things, and
become friends to those who oppose the Lord.
There
is still a great gulf that is growing between right and wrong,
goodness and evil, and many are not willing to give up the things
that the Lord hates.
There
is no bridge to cover this division between the two.
There
must be a complete separation.
2Co
6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he
that believeth with an infidel?
2Co
6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye
are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in
them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my
people.
2Co_6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the
Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
There
is a growing hatred between these two groups.
The
Lord Jesus Christ did many things just to prove that He is God and we
live in a world that increasingly denies these things because they
cannot disprove them!
*****Joh
15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man
did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both
me and my Father.
Joh
15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that
is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
Many
say they believe the Word of God, but they just cannot believe the
Word of God is Divine even though it is!
2Ti
3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
2Ti
3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto
all good works.
Jesus
then said if we cannot believe that all the Word of God was sent from
Heaven, then just believe the miracles that are recorded in the Word
of God.
Many
do believe that the Word of God is an accurate history of the time of
Christ Jesus.
Joh
11:47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council,
and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
Joh
11:48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the
Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
Joh
9:32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the
eyes of one that was born blind.
Joh
9:33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
Joh
14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and
yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen
the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Joh
14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in
me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the
Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Joh
14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or
else believe me for the very works' sake.
Joh
14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the
works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall
he do; because I go unto my Father.
These
enemies of the Lord could not deny the miracles that were seen by so
many people, yet many today, still say these things were impossible
and that is the whole point.
The
Lord Jesus Christ did the impossible, yet He is still denied. We live
in a very foolish world!
There
is truly no reason for this world to hate Jesus, but it does!
Joh
5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works
which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do,
bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
Joh
5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness
of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his
shape.
Joh
5:38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent,
him ye believe not.
Joh
5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal
life: and they are they which testify of me.
Joh
5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
We
can only deduce that this world we live in is truly ignorant!
It
astounds me that our younger generation can believe the lies of the
liberal politicians, who have never proven they hold to the truth,
yet they can deny Jesus Christ.
Many
in this world say they believe in a God but when they deny Jesus
Christ, they have denied the only God that exist!
Many
today talk of sin and ways to get to Heaven yet they deny the only
means to do so!
The
only sin that cannot be forgiven is the sin of "unbelief"!
Over
and over many will say "I do not pretend to be a Christian and
yet in their next breath they will say "But I do not hate God".
How foolish are they who say such things!
Loving
Jehovah is the key to salvation!
All
those that say they love God but hate or deny Jesus Christ are
certainly not trying to please the God they say they love!
Obedience
is the first sign of love!
You
want to see the face of anger, just mention the name Jesus in a
crowd! Makes no sense at all!
Rom
3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
We
must also understand some things of the Holy Spirit.
*****Joh
15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from
the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the
Father, he shall testify of me:
Joh
15:27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me
from the beginning.
We
must clearly understand that our salvation can only happen by the
work of the Holy Trinity, the Triune God!
God
the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit! Not three Gods but
one God in three persons!
Things
we cannot deny:
1)
God is three persons!
2)
Each person is the same God with all the same characteristics and
powers!
3)
There is only one God!
Any
group of religionist that deny the Triune God then are only cults and
certainly not Christianity!
The
Holy Spirit has a mission and that mission is to draw us closer to
the Lord Jesus Christ!
Gal
4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his
Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
It
was the Holy Spirit who caused the Apostles to remember all the
things of Jesus Christ!
It
was the Holy Spirit who gave miracle making powers to the Apostles!
It
was the Holy Spirit that these Apostles the words to say when they
were brought before the government!
It
is the Holy Spirit who will teach us the deep things of God.
It
is the Holy Spirit who travels with the Word of God to bring
conviction to those who hear God's Word's!
It
is the Holy Spirit that shows our ownership to the Lord Jesus Christ!
Rom
8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that
the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of
Christ, he is none of his.
Rom
8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but
the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
It
is impossible for the Holy Spirit to lead us anywhere except to the
Lord Jesus Christ!
It
is impossible for the true believer to not be endowed with the Holy
Spirit!
It
is the Holy Spirit that causes us to be a Temple for the Father and
His Son to abide in upon this earth!
1Co_6:19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost
which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
It
is the Holy Spirit who shows our ownership to the Lord Jesus Christ
and the Lord Jesus Christ will present us to His Father!
When
Pilate ask the Lord Jesus, "what is truth", Jesus Christ
was and is Himself the Truth!
It
is the Holy Spirit that gives us the strength to overcome
persecution!
Amen
Let's
Pray!
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